Characteristics and Sensitization Risk Factors in Kidney Transplant Wait List Candidates: Panel Reactive Antibodies Status Is Crucial for Successful Kidney Allocation Systems in Turkey.

Kidney transplant is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. Because of the insufficient supply of donor organs for transplant, the number of patients on the transplant wait list is increasing. We analyzed demographic and clinical factors including sensitization status of patients on the kidney transplant wait list in our center. Patients on the kidney transplant wait list at Ankara University School of Medicine by July 2018 were evaluated. Data on demographics, comorbidities, treatment characteristics, and immunologic properties were collected. The study included 528 kidney transplant candidates whose mean time on the deceased donor organ wait list was 57 ± 47 months. Enlisted patients were aged 53 ± 13 years, and 95% of them were on dialysis. Dialysis vintage was longer and percentage of patients who had anti-HLA antibodies was higher in women than men (P = .004 and P < .001, respectively). Levels for median fluorescence intensity were higher in women compared with men (class I, P < .001; and class II, P = .011). Transfusion (P < .001), pregnancy (P = .001), transplant (P < .001), longer dialysis vintage (P = .021), and longer time on wait list (P = .001) were associated with anti-HLA antibody positivity. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a history of transplant and blood transfusion were independent risk factors of a positive panel reactive antibodies. In our kidney transplant candidates on the wait list, sensitization by transplant has a significant impact on development of anti-HLA antibodies. Updates of the organ allocation system to consider sensitized candidates and strategies to expand the deceased donor organ pool and donation rates are needed to increase the rate of deceased donor kidney transplant in Turkey.